Formaldehyde-lamp.



No. 642,@63. Paented lan. 3D, |900. F. E. AVERILL.

FDRMALDEHYD'E LAMP.

(Application led July 28, 1898,)

(No lModaI.)

:L l u l i I I INVENTO?.

WJTNESSES:

A TYORN ms mams Varens co. Puma-umol. wAsnmmoN. n4 c.

TriTns PATENT FFIcn.

FRANK E. AVERILL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORKu FORwlALDEHYDE-LAWI P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,063, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed July 28,1898. Serial No. 687,136. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. AVERILL, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Generating Formic Aldehyde, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

VVhat I have invented is a new and improved means for producing formic aldehyde by means of an apparatus so simple and cheap that it is available for every one and is particularly useful for the disinfection of small compartments, sick-chambers, and the like.

The apparat-us consists of an alcohol-lamp of any desirable construction and in connection therewith a support for sustaining above the wick a coil or cage of platinum wire, so that a portion of the platinum shall come in contact with the wick.

The mechanism of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which a desirable construction for suspending lthe platinum coil above the lamp is shown.

Figure I is a front elevation of a lamp embodying my invention. Fig. Il is a vertical axial section thereof. Fig. III is a horizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. II. Fig. IV is a rough representation of my construction of the stranded platinum coil much enlarged. Figs. V and VI show other constructions of platinum cages which may be used in connection with my invention. In Fig. V the cage is formed of flat strips of platinum. In Fig. V I all wires may be of fine strands.

In the iigures, l indicates the lamp for containing methyl alcohol, 2 the burner, and 3 the wick, of ordinary construction.

e is a metal chimney fitted to the lamp, provided with a perforated diaphragm 5 and a guide G. Through these extend the stem 7, by means of which may be supported at any desired height the stranded platinum coil or spiral 8.

9 is an opening in the top of the chimney, and lO l0 are openings near its base.

The process of generating the formic aldehyde is as follows: The lamp being filled with the methyl alcohol and lighted the metallic chimney is set into position so that the lower coils or portions of the platinum come in contact with the wick, the ilame being then maintained until the platinum is heated to abrightred heat when the flame is quickly extinguished. By this means the forlnic aldehyde is generated from the alcohol fumes coming in contact with the red-hot platinum and at the same time there is a reaction, the platinum absorbing sufficient hydrogen to keep it at a red heat, so that the process of generating the formic aldehyde is kept up continuously until the alcohol is entirely exhausted.

I/Vhat I have called the coil or cage of platinum wire may be made in any desirable shape, it being necessary to construct it of strips or wires arranged in some open-work form, so that the platin um may be divided up, affording a considerable surface with which the fumes come in contact and through which they may freely circulate, the spiral form being desirable.

In order to afford as large as possible a surface of subdivided platinum with which the .fumes may come in contact, I prefer to form the coil or cage of wire specially prepared, as follows: Several strands of Veryflne platinum wire are laid together and twisted, forming a single wire. Then either before or after this wire is formed into the spiral or cage it is boiled in an acid solution of bichloride of platinum. It is then heated red-hot and dipped in the bichloride solution, the heating and dipping being performed alternately several times until the spaces or creases between the fine strands are substantially filled with finely-divided platinum and the wire itself, becoming roughened and pitted by the action of the acid solution, exposes a much larger surface to the action of the fumes. This stranding of the wire presents a much larger surface of contact to the vapor and also forms corrugations between the fine wires for receivin g the Inely-divided platinum deposited in the course of treatment. For this reason new wire or strips of platinum are not as good as old, which is more or less roughened or worn.

A portion of the coil composed of a wire formed of four fine strands is shown in Fig. IV, in which is indicated the grains of platinum desposited and the roughening of the wire.

I claim-m l. In combination in an aldehyde-lamp of ordinary construction, having a wick, burner and tubular top, a tubular member fitted to said top and an adjustable, depending structure consisting of platinum Wire composed of fine strands, overlaid with tine granules of platinum.

2. In combination in a lamp for generating aldehyde, the lamp of ordinary construction for containing alcohol and a Wire to be used therewith, said wire being formed of fine strands twisted together and overlaid with iine granules of platinum.

3. In combination in an aldehyde-lamp, the lamp of ordinary construction for containing methyl alcohol and provided with a Wick, a removable support fitted to the top of said lamp, a rod adjustably carried on said support, a platinum coil attached to the lower end of said rod and adapted to be elevated or 

